United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE): Steps, Eligibility, Dates, Fees etc.

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE[2]) program is owned by two entities: the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME[1]). The FSMB is a non-profit association representing the 70 state medical and osteopathic boards of the United States and its territories. The personal medical boards are responsible for licensing physicians, investigating patient complaints, and disciplining physicians who break the law.

The NBME is a non-profit association that helps the public by assessing health professionals. The approximately 80-member board includes representation from national experts who contribute to the design of its examinations, at-large members who bring a variety of perspectives, including the public, and representatives from several organizations, including the;

  • Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC),
  • American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS),
  • American Medical Association (AMA),
  • Resident and Fellows Section of the AMA,
  • the American Medical Student Association (AMSA),
  • the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS),
  • the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), FSMB,
  • the Student National Medical Association (SNMA),
  • the uniformed services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Overview

Full NameUnited States Medical Licensing Examination
Exam NameUSMLE[3]
Sponsored ByFSMB and NBME
DescriptionThe test is computer-based and conducted in 3 steps, broadly referred to as Step 1, Step 2 (CK) and Step 3, shown over 3+ years.
Total Stages03
Maximum Number of Attempts06
Registration fee$610 -$910 (depends on USMLE Step you appear for).
Exam Taken12,000 students each year and 8,000 are Indian students.
Official websitehttps://www.usmle.org/
Index
1. History of USMLE
2. Step Examinations of USMLE
3. USMLE Eligibility Criteria
4. USMLE Exam Fees
5. USMLE Exam Pass Rate
6. Frequently Asked Questions

History of USMLE

  1. The USMLE was first designed in the late 1980s and introduced during the period from 1992 to 1994.
  2. The program replaced the NBME Part Examination program and the FSMB’s Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) program.
  3. In 2004, a clinical-skills examination was added to Step 2 of the USMLE (USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills) and beginning with the medical school graduating class of 2005, students have been required to pass it in order to be licensed.
  4. In 2005, a clinical skills component was also added to the examination program of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination.

Step Examinations of USMLE

Here this selection we are providing the USMLE program is composed of three examinations:

  • Step 1
  • Step 2 CK
  • Step 3

USMLE Eligibility Criteria

In the United States Medical Licensing Examination to be eligible for the Step 1 and Step 2 exams, you should meet any one of the below eligibility criteria:

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USMLE Step 1 & 2 Exams Eligibility

  • A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US or Canadian medical school program leading to the MD degree that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME[4]), OR
  • A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US medical school leading to the DO degree that is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), OR
  • A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school outside the US and Canada is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements and meeting other eligibility criteria of the ECFMG[5].

USMLE Step 3

  • Passing scores on Step 1 and Step 2 CK, AND
  • An MD degree or the DO degree from an LCME- or COCA-accredited US or Canadian medical school, OR the equivalent of the MD degree from a medical school outside the US and Canada that is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements and obtain ECFMG Certification.

USMLE Exam Fees

The pursuit is the structure of USMLE fees for Step 1 and Step 2 exams.

USMLE Fee TypeUSMLE Cost for Step 1USMLE Cost for Step 2 (CK)
Application Fee$975$975
Rescheduling FeesUp to $604Up to $604

USMLE Exam Pass Rate

Below have mentioned the Overall pass rates for the individual Step exams that comprise the USMLE. Checkout

Years of dataU.S. M.D. medical school examinees(US 1st-time takers)U.S. D.O. osteopathic medical school examinees(US DO 1st time)Examinees from Non-US/Canadian Schools(Int’l 1st time)
Step 1(2019)96%97%96%96%78%82%
Step 2 CK(2018-2019)97%98%97%97%82%87%
Step 3(2019)98%98%100%100%89%92%

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the USMLE policy on attempt limits?

The total number of attempts permitted per Step is four. Examinees who have attempted any USMLE Step (including Step 2 CS) four or more times and have not passed are ineligible to apply for USMLE Steps.

Is the Usmle exam difficult?

USMLE Step 1 is considered more complex than other USMLE exams but is also an essential step toward your medical career.

How many Usmle exams are there?

There are 3 main steps in the United States Medical Licensing Examination exams.

What is the USMLE full-form?

The USMLE full form is the United States Medical Licensing Examination.

What are the group pass rates by the medical school for the Steps?

For accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada, performance by medical schools is reported by NBME only to individual schools and is available only from those schools. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®) is responsible for reporting scores for students and graduates of international medical schools.

Who will have access to my biometric information?

Access to your biometric information will be limited as described in the Privacy Notice for USMLE Candidates. Employees or agents of the USMLE sponsors who have access to the data are bound by confidentiality agreements.

Reference:

Read Also:

National Medical Commission (NMC)World Health Organization (WHO)
World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
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